How are Photon Produced?
Photons can be produced through various processes depending on the source of electromagnetic radiation. Production of photon is explained using the analogy,
“Think of atoms like tiny solar systems: electrons orbiting around a nucleus. When we give these electrons a boost of energy, they jump to higher orbits. But they can’t stay there forever – eventually, they come back down to their normal orbits. When they do, they release energy in the form of photons, which are like tiny packets of energy. Frequency of a photon is determined by the distance the electron falls, giving rise to distinctive characteristics for each photon.”
Why does Photon have Momentum?
Despite lacking mass, a photon has momentum proportionate to its energy. Based on the photon’s energy and frequency, the momentum can be calculated using the Planck-Einstein relation
E = hv
However, a photon cannot have any mass because it is always travelling at the speed of light, according to Einstein’s calculations. However, it is evident that the photon still needs energy in order to cause the photoelectric effect. Consequently, it stands to reason that all photon energy is in the form of motion. Thus, a photon needs momentum in order to move and have energy.
Photon
Photon is a fundamental particle of electromagnetic radiation. It is a quantum of light and other electromagnetic waves. It is the force carrier of the electromagnetic force. Photons can display wave-like behaviors such as interference and diffraction. They can also exhibit particle-like behaviors such as the photoelectric effect. This is known as wave-particle duality.
Photons carry momentum and travel at the speed of light. Photons are produced through processes such as electron transitions in atoms, particle interactions, and particle-antiparticle annihilation. In the photoelectric effect, photons transfer their energy to electrons in a material, leading to the emission of photoelectrons.
Table of Content
- What are Photons?
- How are Photon Produced?
- Difference between Photon and Electron
- Properties of Photon
- Wave-Particle Duality
- Photoelectric Effect